Neil Morrice brings us his best bets and tips for Leicester, Chepstow, Worcester and Hamilton Park on Thursday 15 July 2021.
LEICESTER
Race 1 No9 BONITA B (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
Greenness has cost BONITA B on her last two outings but in the belief she will be more streetwise she can make a good fist of taking out this nursery. The penny dropped too late at Pontefract, but for which she would have finished closer to Eternal Glory.
Race 4 No10 JASMINE JOY
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
The hooded JASMINE JOY can strike a blow as the only filly in the race and cash in on her handy sex allowance. The daughter of Lope De Vega responded to the fitting of headgear when second to Free Wind on seasonal return at Doncaster, and can build sufficiently on that to deny Marching Army.
Race 6 No9 FANGORN (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
This track should suit the tall FANGORN, who has threatened to win a handicap and was only narrowly denied in a better race than this at Newmarket last month. His front running tactics can pay off against recent scorer Dabaran.
CHEPSTOW
Race 6 No3 BALEARIC (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: Luke Morris
Three horse races are inevitably decided on tactics, but as long as this doesn’t turn into a sprint in the last quarter, BALERARIC can take the spoils. The Gleneagles gelding scored in first-time blinkers at Newcastle, and though disappointing on his next start, bounced back with a solid third at Haydock since when he’s been in good form on the Whatcombe gallops.
Race 7 No8 BIRD TO LOVE (Each Way)
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Ellie Mackenzie
Having indicated on her latest start on the all-weather that she’s getting closer to a return to winning ways, BIRD TO LOVE can take home another cheque on this return from three months off. She represents good each way value at a fancy price.
HAMILTON PARK
Race 5 No8 GAINSBOURG (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
GAINSBOURG made a good fist of landing a touch on handicap debut at Ripon when third to Arranmore. Owned and bred by former champion jockey Willie Carson, the Sixties Icon gelding finds himself back in a novice stakes and can play the experience card to good effect.
WORCESTER
Race 2 No1 DINO VELVET (Nap)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Alexander Thorne
DINO VELVET did us a good turn when scoring on his belated chase debut at Uttoxeter. After that wide margin triumph, his connections may be rueing the fact they waited this long to turn his attention to fences. He now finds himself in somewhat deeper waters, but can nevertheless carry on the good work by following up under a welter burden.
Race 5 No3 COUSIN OSCAR
Trainer: Donald McCain Jnr – Jockey: Theo Gillard
The one with room for improvement in this competitive handicap hurdle is COUSIN OSCAR. Following double win surgery, the selection has shown he can operate well coming back from a layoff, as was the case with his placed effort at Aintree last month. If he can build on that, he might have too many guns for Ronde De Nuit.
Race 7 No4 BUCKS DREAM (Each Way)
Trainer: Peter Bowen – Jockey: James Bowen
By way of three earning efforts from as many starts this season, BUCKS DREAM is carded to give us a good run for our money for a stable whose summer jumpers are in very good order. A beaten favourite on his last two outings, any losses sustained on him can now be recouped.
Place Accumulater Perm (Races 2-8)
1 x 7, 1 x 8 x 3, 7, 2 x 4, 6 x 4, 10, 5 x 9, 10
R72
